Page 149 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

Bago SoutheaStern MyanMar 147
bhumisparsha mudra with one hand touching the earth. The back-to-back
arrangement of the statues, which can also be seen at the Laymyatnar Pagoda near
Maha Kalyani Sima, seems to have originated with the Mon before spreading to
Bagan and Thailand.

arrIVaL anD DeParture BaGo
By bus The bus station is 1km southwest of the town on Taunggyi (for Inle Lake; 2 daily; 12hr); Taungoo (3 daily;
the Yangon–Mandalay Road. Tickets are available both 4hr); Yangon (4 hourly; 1hr 30min–2hr).
from here and the bus company offices on the main road By train Bago’s railway station is just west of the town
between the Mya Nan Da and San Francisco hotels (see centre, on the north side of the main road. For Kyaiktiyo,
below). Most buses will stop at both the bus station and in take a Mawlamyine-bound train and get off at Kyaikhto.
town by Three Five restaurant, but do check this when you For Inle Lake, change at Thazi.
buy your ticket. Many of the more foreigner-savvy hotels Destinations Dawei (daily; 22hr 30min); Kyaikhto (3 daily;
also sell bus tickets. 3hr); Mandalay (3 daily; 14hr); Mawlamyine (3 daily;
Destinations Hpa-An (hourly; 6hr); Kinpun (for Kyaiktiyo; 7–8hr); Naypyitaw (5 daily; 7–8hr); Taungoo (3 daily; 4hr
hourly; 3hr); Mandalay (3 daily; 10–12hr); Mawlamyine 30min); Thaton (3 daily; 5hr); Thazi (3 daily; 10–11hr); 3
(3 daily; 5hr 30min); Pyin Oo Lwin (2 daily; 10hr 30min); Yangon (8 daily; 2hr); Ye (daily; 14hr).
GettInG arounD
By motorbike taxi A short journey around town ought to although most drivers do not speak English.
cost no more than K500, and full-day tours can be arranged By bicycle Bikes are available to rent from the San
for a reasonable K3000 through the budget hotels – Francisco hotel for K3000/day.
aCCoMMoDatIon
Emperor 8 Main Rd T052 222 2108, Enyeinchanbgo Burmese food (mains $7–8), you may not need to leave
@gmail.com. One of the nicer budget options in town. The anyway. $140
small rooms are clean and colourful, though all suffer from Mariner 330 Pagoda Rd T052 201034, Ehotel
a good amount of background noise from the nearby main mariner.hm@gmail.com. Close to Shwemawdaw, this is
road and mosque. One bonus is that you can check out at one of the few foreigner-friendly hotels in the eastern
any time – handy if you’re on the late bus to Mandalay. part of town, with thirty bright rooms. It’s housed on the
Breakfast is not included. $20 top three floors of a building that also contains a
★ Han Thar Gardens 34 Bullein Tar Zone Village, shopping centre, hair salon and a café. You can expect to
12km south of Bago on the Yangon–Mandalay Rd pay a little more for a pagoda view, but it’s money well
T09 4281 77217, Whanthargardens.com. Several spent. $35
classes above anything else in Bago, this place has airy and San Francisco 14 Main Rd T052 22265. San Francisco
beautiful deluxe rooms in the main building, with vast is understandably popular with backpackers, with
bathrooms. The cheaper superior rooms have less of a wow twenty fan-cooled rooms and knowledgeable, helpful
factor but are still attractive and spacious, and there is a staff. The cheapest doubles with shared bathrooms are
small pool and sundeck. The only downside is the out-of- acceptable, while the more expensive rooms ($18) are
town location, next to a busy main road, though with a really quite impressive considering the price. Breakfast
pretty on-site café serving excellent, largely organic not included. $14
eatInG
Fresh Thai Icon Shopping Center on the Yangon– Burmese meals are the best. This place is popular
Mandalay Rd. This rooftop restaurant is based inside the with tour groups, and if it’s busy you may be
new Icon Shopping Center, and serves tasty Thai dishes directed to their nearby sister restaurant, Century.
(mains K5000–6000) from a menu that’s so exhaustive Daily 10.30am–10.30pm.
you’ll forget what you wanted to order by the time you ★ Min Htet Shwetaungyoe Rd, just north of Shwe
finish reading it. Daily 9am–10pm. Taung Yoe Pagoda. Locals flock to this simple restaurant
Hanthawaddy 192 Hintha St T09 4921 7309. at lunchtime for tasty Burmese-style curries (there’s
Bago’s most upmarket dining option, Hanthawaddy usually one vegetarian option on offer), accompanied
is housed in a villa with good views of Shwemawdaw by the usual trappings of salad, ngapi and vast
from the upstairs balcony. The menu covers Burmese, quantities of rice. Expect to pay K1200 for a meal with
Thai and Chinese dishes for K4000–6000. The tea. Mon–Sat 9am–6pm.

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